WHAT WILL I BE DOING?
Sample Itinerary
Day 1-2: Arrival & Orientation
Arrive in the bustling port city of Dar es Salaam where you will be met at the airport and escorted to your Dar accommodation. Spend a day getting orientated, pick up some basic Swahili, and explore the city's museums, markets, and nightspots!
Day 2-12: Savannah African Wildlife Conservation Camp
After leaving your first night's accommodation you will be taken to the bus station where you will board your transport to Ifakara. You'll experience this exciting African wilderness environment as you explore the Kilombero Valley, located on the edge of the world-famous Selous game reserve. Here you will help with the ongoing work aimed at producing plans showing wildlife and floral distribution patterns. You'll record levels of habitat disturbance and gather information on wildlife habitat preferences along with other important ecological data. To compile inventories you'll help carry out extensive surveys of large and small mammals, bats, frogs and butterflies in the areas surrounding the camp and in the nearby forests and woodland refuges.
After this whirlwind African savannah experience you will return to Dar by bus through the famous Mikumi Game Reserve where you may get a chance to spot elephants, lions, zebra and giraffe from your bus. Once in Dar you can find your way back to your original accommodation - or try somewhere new - before continuing the next phase of your journey to Mafia Island. Remember you will need to pay for your accommodation and transport in Dar as you will be in transit and not accompanied by Frontier staff (although these costs are minimal and our field staff will of course help you make bookings!)
Day 13-35: Teaching project
You will need to take a taxi to the domestic airport the next day to catch your flight to Mafia Island (extra cost – £100 return). Enjoy the stunning short flight to the most beautiful of Tanzania's Spice Islands, where tranquil white-sand beaches, friendly villages, and world class scuba diving sites combine to make this a true tropical paradise. On arrival you will be met at Mafia Island airport by Frontier field staff who will escort you to the marine camp. You will live in Utende village within the Mafia Island Marine Park on the Frontier marine conservation camp. After some time to make yourself at home you will be introduced to the local school children and staff and begin to immerse yourself in Tanzanian village life. At the school you may be able to help and even lead classes in English and other subjects as well as organising extra activities with the children and, if the timing's right, you may get to help conduct one of the marine camp's famous environmental education days.
Day 35-39: Snorkelling
After your challenging and rewarding teaching assignment chill out on one of Mafia's spectacular coconut palm-fringed beaches or snorkel over the pristine coral reefs spotting rays, turtles and vivid hued tropical fish. Watch the Tanzanian shark fishing dhows as they return at dusk or join the Frontier divers and marine biologists as they voyage each day by sailing dhow to the world class dive sites.
You may be able to squeeze in a dive course with one of the small local dive operators for an additional £300 (subject to season, availability and weather) and explore the emerald depths of this magical world as you work towards your PADI Open Water scuba diving qualification.
After your time on Mafia you will be escorted to the airport before journeying on to Zanzibar via Dar.
Day 40-41: Culture & Recreation on Zanzibar
Spend two days exploring the historic Stonetown and other Zanzibar attractions. You'll take in festivals, visit markets, and party the night away in this unique exotic island paradise.
Day 42: Travel
Return to Dar es Salaam before you fly home.
This is a specimen itinerary and the order of the projects is subject to change. Please note that this project requires considerable in-country travel in order to experience this variety of stunning environments. Volunteers should be prepared to travel between project sites and in Zanzibar independently, and cover minimal in transit costs.
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